I don’t know who this post is for. Have you ever had a day where so many experiences and interactions lead to the same message, the same life lesson, the same thought?
That happened to me this morning! Six times! I feel compelled to share the thoughts that replayed in my head over and over today. Something else would happen and there it was….the same message once again! Maybe this post is for you. Maybe it’s from God to me. I don’t know!
But here it is…
Make the time to lift others up. If you are spending time with someone you care about and an appreciative thought pops into your head…tell them. Immediately tell them. Don’t leave it in. Don’t take for granted that they know how you feel, or that you appreciate them. Any little sincere thought of gratitude, recognition, or acknowledgment that you think about another person, deserves to come out and land in their ear! ha ha
There is so much power in uplifting sincere words. It doesn’t have to be over the top, even the smallest of appreciations goes a long way. Sometimes we just take for granted that there will be the right time, or a good moment to say what we want to say to those we love. Appreciate today. Appreciate those in your life right now, at this moment. Who knows how many tomorrows we will have. I’m not trying to be dramatic, but it’s true. Life can change in the blink of an eye.
I have always loved this quote.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” –Leo Buscaglia
Share the love! I do know that this message is for me (and perhaps for someone else out there as well.) There are times when I think something complementary about someone else, but I don’t say it. Why? Maybe because I don’t want them to think I’m a weirdo who loves to flatter. Some people truly aren’t comfortable with complimentary words; however, sincere appreciation for a loved one is a gift worth sharing. In return, take the compliment as it was intended. Soak up the love! I’m going to just blurt it out when an appreciative thought pops into my head now…just a warning for those I love. ha ha! 🙂
Thank you for your love, support, comments, e-mails, notes, and conversations. They truly do mean so much to me. I’m so grateful for my friends and family!
From my heart to yours,
Christine
Reclaiming LIFE 
Ok… Gonna give this a try… Although possibly I’ve told you all of this before, can’t hurt to say it again… It’s practice I need…
Your hawt, having amazing breasts, dance like a professional dancer, smell very good, have a sense of humor that I admire, an out look on life that I adore, incredibly talented in photography which I am envious of (envy is probably the reason I often hold back on cOmpliments)… People love you where ever you go which I’m also envious of. You have an incredible way with words, an awkward geeky way about you (only at times) which makes you so easy to be around! Ok… So there it is! I know you didn’t post this blog for multiple compliments and ha I know you well enough to know you are considering declining this comment because it’s all about how great you are, but you won’t cause it would hurt my feelings!!! Lol … Just accept it cause your great! Xoxo
Oh Tawny, you know me so well. Yup, first thought (before I got to the end of your comment) “I can’t publish these compliments to me” and then I thought “it will hurt her feelings if I don’t”. ha ha! Thank you my friend for lifting me up every day…yup daily! Now here is what I adore about you: You are beautiful inside and out. You have this way about you that puts others at ease because of your sincerity. You are generous, kind, and full of life. So much fun to hang out with. People just want to be around your energy! You always know the right things to say to make someone see things differently when they are down, and will always share your own struggles and faults which makes people realize they are not alone! You are an amazing Mom. I really admire the way you raise your girls. The other day when we were standing in line for the movie, you were talking to me and I thought “My gosh she has killer blue eyes, they are quite piercing” but didn’t say it out loud because that’s kind of awkward ya know?! (there’s that awkward, geeky side you seem to like about me anyways) love you so much. xoxo Oh, and you have a great butt. ha ha
Wow girl, you ROCK.
-Kyla F
(Can I add your blog to my 2011pics blogroll “cool projects’? You are such an inspiration to so many people. LMK)
No YOU rock Kyla! I think about you so often. I think about how amazingly strong you are. I love your outlook on life. You are vivacious! You are not only full-of-life, but you have a way of enjoying the serenity of life as well. That’s a balance that many find hard to acquire, myself included. You are incredibly talented. I love looking at your daily pictures and I’m often in awe of them thinking “how did she capture that?” with my mouth open. You see beauty in the most ordinary items and show the world that beauty. Truly a gift. 🙂 Thank you. For sure you can add my blog to your blog roll. I would be honoured. Thank you for your comment. xoxo
Awwwwwww!!!!! You guys are all so lovey mushy~ Makes me all swoopy inside!!! I tell people I love them all the time, live and in person, with spammy wall hearts, with pictures of things that make me think of them, by fighting for custody… I have tried for years to give my love away but it keeps coming back to me tenfold. Thanks Christine (and Kyla and Tawny) for being made entirely of awesome ❤
I love your spammy wall hearts, and I enjoy getting tagged in a picture 🙂 You are incredibly talented Hope, with a voice that speaks up for so many. You are intelligent, thoughtful, driven, and have a wacky sense of humour (which I love). I love your drive to keep educating yourself weather it be at University, learning a new language, or learning to play your beloved pink heart guitar. xoxo Much love to YOU!
What a lovely post– I completely agree with you! Your blog is fabulous 🙂
Jaclyn Rae: Thank you for you comment and for reading. I visited your blog and this post really touched my heart: http://polkadotteapot.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/the-kindness-of-strangers/
You have a gift for writing and I love the pictures you incorporate too.
Stop by again 🙂